The Plane Newsletter

A publication of Chapter 1111 Experimental Aircraft Association

January 2004 - January 2004 - January 2004 - January 2004 - January 2004 - January 2004 - January 2004 - January 2004

From the President

THE “ALMOST” NEWSPAPER STORY
Prior to the December 17th celebration of the Wright Brothers powered flight, a reporter from the Daily News in Longview called and visited with some of us for the purpose of writing a story about local aviation activities and experimental aircraft. I don’t know what happened, but the story was not published. However, we did get in some good practice of promoting aviation and the reporter got a couple of plane rides out of us.

It paid off in terms of aviation. She (the reporter) signed up for flying lessons at Kelso.

CRASH
An experimental ship crashed, with fatal results, near Hermiston a few weeks ago. Keith Hamilton called to say it was not him. I appreciated the call, but sorry to hear of lives lost.

AWARDS!
I have certificates and pins for our various officers and helpers last year. We will acknowledge you at the January meeting. (Come to think of it, I still have the awards from 2002, so this can be a double awards time.)

THE WEATHER MAY IMPACT OUR JANUARY MEETING
As of this writing, we are getting a preview of what can happen for about the next three months. Here on the hills above Woodland, the snow is 6” and climbing. Should the weather make it unsafe for us to travel to Charlie’s, we will hold our meeting at the FBO. If the weather is really rotten, we will just cancel and everybody should stay home. I will ask Eric to provide a January 8th, Thursday afternoon e mail update as to any changes.

... and make sure you bring your money to buy a 2004 EAA Calendar!!!

Plane Thoughts

PILOTS

You see them at airport terminals around the world. You see them in the morning early, sometimes at night. They come neatly and uniformed hatted, sleeves striped; they show up looking fresh. There's a brisk, young-old look of efficiency about them.

They arrive fresh from home, from hotels, carrying suitcases, battered briefcases, bulging, with a wealth of technical information, data, filled with regulations, rules.

They know the new, harsh sheen of Chicago's O'Hare. They know the cluttered approaches to Newark; they know the tricky shuttle that is Rio; they know, but do not relish, threading the needle into Hong Kong.

They respect foggy San Francisco. They know the up-and-down walk to the gates at Dallas, the Texas sparseness of Abilene, the Berlin Corridor, New Orleans' sparking terminal, the milling crowds at Washington. They know Butte, Boston, and Beirut. They appreciate Miami's perfect weather, they recognize the danger of an ice-slick runway at JFK.

They understand about short runways, antiquated fire equipment, inadequate approach lighting, but there is one thing they will never comprehend: Complacency.

They remember the workhorse efficiency of the DC-3's, the reliability of the DC- 4's and DC-6's, the trouble with theDC-7's. They discuss the beauty of an old gal named Connie. They recognize the high shrill whine of a Viscount, the rumbling thrust of a DC-8 or 707. And a Convair.

They speak a language unknown to Webster. They discuss ALPA, EPR's, fans, mach and bogie swivels. And, strangely, such things as bugs, thumpers, crickets, and CATs, but they are inclined to change the subject when the uninitiated approaches.

They have tasted the characteristic loneliness of the sky, and occasionally the adrenaline of danger. They respect the unseen thing called turbulence; they know what it means to fight for self-control, to discipline one's senses.

They buy life insurance-but make no concession to the possibility of complete disaster, for they have uncommon faith in themselves and what they are doing.

They concede that the glamour is gone from flying. They deny that a man is through at sixty. They know that tomorrow, or the following night, something will come along that they have never met before; they know that flying requires perseverance. They know that they must practice, lest they retrograde.

They realize why some wit once quipped: "Flying is year after year of monotony punctuated by seconds of stark terror."

As a group, they defy mortality tables, yet approach semi-annual physical examinations with trepidation. They are individualistic, yet bonded together. They are family men, yet rated poor marriage bets. They are reputedly overpaid, yet entrusted with equipment worth millions. And entrusted with lives, countless lives.

At times they are reverent: They have watched the Pacific sky turn purple at dusk. They know the twinkling, jeweled beauty of Los Angeles at night; they have seen snow up on the Rockies. They remember the vast unending mat of green Amazon jungle, the twisting silver road that is the father of Waters, an ice cream cone called Fujiyama. And the hump of Africa.

They have watched a satellite streak across a starry sky, seen the clear, deep blue of the stratosphere, felt the incalculable force of the heavens.

They have marveled at sun-streaked evenings, dappled earth, velvet night; spun silver clouds, sculptured cumulus: God's weather. They have viewed the Northern Lights, a wilderness of sky, a pilot's halo, a bomber's moon, horizontal rain, contrails and St Elmo's Fire.

Only a pilot experiences all these. It is their world.

--Author unknown

Minutes/Notes From Last Meeting

2004 Young Eagles Program:
We still need confirmed leaders for the 2004 Young Eagles program. Jerry Sorrell will check with Terry Creamer and Harry Blair.

2004 Fly In Director:
We need a Fly In “Boss” but did not reach a conclusion yet.

Hangar Update:
Jerry Sorrell reported that the City must have the AWOS unit relocated before any hangars can be built. The City Public Works Director, David Sypher, encourages the EAA to participate in requesting funding from the WSDOT Division of Aeronautics, or from the congressional representatives in getting the AWOS moved so construction of the hangars may begin.

Chapter 1111 Promotional Video
Jim Ylvisaker reported on the video work through KLTV. The first phase, a 1 minute introductory video is done and can be viewed tonight at the meeting. Phase 2, the 15 minute video, is under way. Phase 3 will be longer and more of a documentary. We discussed a 10 year follow up of the projects. We talked about a picnic next summer where all of the projects could be gathered for display.

Fernando Cuglievan gave a brief safety report on how he found the aerobatic fuel pick up “flop tube” on an RV-6 A to be rotated upward against the vent tube near the top of the tank. The aircraft could have starved for fuel, even though fuel was in the tank.

Fernando has sold his RV-8 project and is now the proud builder of an RV-9. He is doing the 4 a.m. to 6 a.m. schedule to pursuer this project.

Jerry Sorrell reported on the hangar status and AWOS to be relocated some time in the future when the city can finds some money to move it.

A potential new member, Kraig Grose, came to the meeting to see what EAA is about.

Terry Creamer is now the holder of the chapter historian photo files. Our thanks to Karen Fenton for her work in chapter members biography and photo work.

Our guest speaker, Frank Sneed, is a designated FAA inspector for experimental aircraft certification. Frank provided handouts and took us through the various airworthiness, weight and balance and flight restriction forms. Some of us have already had Frank inspect our aircraft and complete the FAA paperwork prior to our first flight.

And… Thanks to Bob Taylor for bringing the eats.

Calendar of events

Next Board Meeting: Thursday January 8th, 6:00 pm at the Kelso FBO

Next Club Meeting: Thursday January 8th, 7:00 pm at the Rosenzweig's home

***** Weather Notice *****
Please stay posted as to the weather. If we get into a snow storm or other hazardous driving, we will just meet at the FBO and do plan “B”. If it is really bad, we all go home from work.

Program:

We will be meeting at the Kelso FBO around 6:45 pm to car pool to Charlie Rosenzweig's place to check out the Toyota pickup engine installation in his RV-6A. Charlie reported a demo run could be made.

Directions to Charlie's House:
9070 Ocean Beach Hwy
577-6407

From Longview, drive west on Ocean Beach Hwy #4 (You will pass Fred Meyers, Wal-Mart, and Bakers Corner). Once you pass the intersection of Coal Creek it will be approximately 5 miles to Charlie's house.
After Stella you will go past Germany Creek. The road starts to go up a hill and the west bound lane will go from one lane to two (passing lane). Get in the right hand lane. About 1/3 mile on the right there will be a sign post that says 9150 on it. This is my driveway. It goes up the hill to the right. There will be a cross road, GO RIGHT, continue up the hill to my house and shop.

The web link to the map: Charlie's Place

yet another picture...

The Ocean beach highway runs diagonal on the picture.
In the upper left of the picture, turn right on the Bunker Hill Road. Go about ¼ mile and turn right at the driveway opposite the fire station on the left. This fire station sits diagonal on the picture.
Charlie’s driveway goes east and ends up at the “A” frame roofed house with car port, which is slightly right and just above of center of the picture. His shop is the white building about 100 feet northeast of the house.

Classifieds

Please Note!!! All classifieds will start to bear a date. After they have been in the newsletter for 3 publications, they will be moved to the classifieds section of the EAA 1111 web page. Thank you in advance for alerting the editor when and if your ad can be removed.

Officers and Committee Chairpersons